Online Media Cultist

Lost Remote reports that popular gossip site TMZ.com will branch out into a half hour syndicated television show starting on September 10.

TMZ’s bluster aside – “We’ve become like The Associated Press in the world we cover,” says founder Harvey Levin – this is yet another sign that the online world is competing with television head on as a source to debut entertainment and informational content.

It makes perfect sense that popular websites and online shows will move onto other media distribution systems. Producing content online is far cheaper than for television. So why not use the Internet as a proving ground for moving the most popular stuff onto broadcast TV?

Things will get even more interesting when popular online content won’t be transferred over to television because it won’t have to. In other words, they will get all the audience, attention, and advertising revenue they need from online distribution. Taking things even further – and this isn’t all that far off – the experience for the broad public in watching shows on television versus the Internet will be very close to the same thing.

The online soap epic Prom Queen, doled out in 90 second episode increments – has proven successful enough that more professionally produced episodic video content programs will be sure to follow. As for Prom Queen, it’s headed for a Season Two of sorts this summer as Prom Queen: Summer Heat.